3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 "Is it a right for you people to live in paneled houses while My house is in ruins?" 5 Therefore, the LORD of hosts says, "Consider how things have been going for you." 6 "You sow much and harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You place your wages in a purse with holes." 7 The LORD of hosts is reminding you, "Consider what you are doing." 8 "Go up to the mountains for wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD. 9 "You look for much and see little. What you bring home I blow away. Why? Because My house lies desolate while each of you live in a nice home." 10 "This is why the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has not produced." 11 "I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine and the oil, on what the ground produces, and on men, cattle and all the labor of your hands."

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD God and the words He gave to Haggai the prophet. And the people showed reverence for the LORD. 13 Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger said, "The LORD declares, 'I am with you.'" 14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God. 15 This took place on the twenty fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king.

Haggai 2 - RWB Paraphrase (23 V)
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Encouragement To Complete The Temple
1 On the twenty first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet saying, 2 "Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them," 3 "'Who of you saw this house in its former glory? Does it not seem to you like there is no comparison?'"

4 But the LORD says, "Take courage, Zerubbabel, and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, and work. For I am with you." 5 "This is the promise I made with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear." 6 For thus says the LORD of hosts, "Once again in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens, the earth and the sea as well as the dry land." 7 "I will shake all the nations, and they will come with their wealth, and I will fill this house with glory," says the LORD of hosts. 8 "The silver and gold is Mine." 9 "The latter glory of this house will be greater than that of Solomon, and I will give peace to this place."

10 On the twenty fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying, 11 The LORD says, "Ask a ruling of the priests:" 12 "if a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food, does that food become consecrated?" The priests answered, "No." 13 Then Haggai said, "If a person is defiled by contact with a dead body, and touches one of these things, does it become defiled?" The priests replied, "Yes, it does become defiled." 14 Then Haggai said, "According to the LORD, so it is with this nation before Him. Their work and their offerings are unclean." 15 "But from this day forward, before one stone is laid upon another in the LORD's temple," 16 "remember the time when twenty measures of grain amounted to only ten, and a wine vat with fifty measures came to only twenty," 17 "I smote the work of your hands with blasting wind, mildew and hail. Yet you did not come back to Me, " declares the LORD. 18 "From this day, the twenty fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought of that day when the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid. Think about it." 19 "Is the seed still in the barn? Has the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree, borne fruit. But from now on I will bless you."

20 The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the same day, saying, 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, 'I am going to shake the heavens and the earth." 22 "I will overthrow kingdoms and destroy their power. I will overthrow their weapons of war, and their soldiers will go down by the sword." 23 "On that day, I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, " says the LORD of Hosts.

Chapters: 1 2